BE WISE!

4-12-2018. . . .BE WISE!

"Say there!  Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk-it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that doesn't give you strength?  Why pay for groceries that do you no good?   Listen and I'll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!"  (Isa 55:1-2 TLB)  

No matter how much of it one has, there are just some things that money cannot buy!  The things that money cannot buy are far more valuable than the things it can.  Money can buy temporal things but not eternal ones.  Be wise and keep both in proper perspective!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for temporal things and the money to purchase them.  Thank you more so for the things you give us that are eternal.  Help us to be wise and keep both in proper perspective.  Amen!

2 Cor 4:17-18. . . . For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  KJV

WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE!

4-11-2018. . . .WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE!

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt 16:18 KJV)  

There are no forces including the forces of hell that can prevail against the true Church that Jesus himself is building.  It's time the church step up and be the church on the prevailing issues of our day and stop wimping out; opting rather to be politically correct and go along to get along.  Outside forces will only prevail if we let them.  It's past time we stop letting them!  Boldly SPEAK UP and SPEAK OUT we have the advantage!

PRAYER: Lord, help us be the church you are calling for us to be in this modern era.  Empower us with boldness to speak up and speak out against all unrighteousness!  Help us through the demonstration of your love to be the change agents that lead sinners to repentance!  Amen.

2 Peter 3:8-10. . . .But don't forget this, dear friends, that a day or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord.  He isn't really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent.  The day of the Lord is surely coming, as unexpectedly as a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the heavenly bodies will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be burned up. TLB

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE!

4-10-2018. . . .WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE!

"And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other, selling their possessions and dividing with those in need. They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God. The whole city was favorable to them, and each day God added to them all who were being saved." (Acts 2:44-47 TLB)

We would be hard-pressed to find this biblical paradigm of the Church existing anywhere in the world, although, it should.  What changed?   Where once there was common-ism, there is now individualism; where once there was humanitarianism, there is now materialism.  Where once there was continual fellowship, there is now denominational partisanship; where once there was interdependence, there is now dysfunctional co-dependence.   It, therefore, should come as no surprise that church attendance, participation, and interest has decreased.  Yet, God remains faithful to His Church!  So then, the real question for us is not "What changed" but, "What Needs to Change?"  Easy answer. . . . US!

PRAYER: Lord, how far we've strayed from your original plan and have engrafted our own agendas.  Help us, Lord, to be the church you designed us to be.  Amen!

 Eph 4:1-6. . . . .As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  (from New International Version)

THE END GAME!

4-6-2018. . . .THE END GAME!

"Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." (James 1:2-4 TLB)  

No problem, challenge nor difficulty will last forever; so patiently go through in order to get through.  It's all about the end game!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for times of testing that come to strengthen and grow us!  Help us stay focused on the end game!  Amen. 

Heb 10:35-36. . . .Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  KJV

THEM AND US!

4-5-2018. . . .THEM AND US!

"May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other-each with the attitude of Christ toward the other." (Rom 15:5-6 TLB) 

It's not always easy getting along with others!  Sometime it is because of them, other times (if we are honest) it is because of us. The truth of the matter is, God is still working on them and us.  Remember, He will give us the patience we need until the process is complete in them and us.

Prayer: Lord, you are the God of patience, strength and encouragement.  Thank you for being patient with us and guiding us in being patient with others. Amen!

James 1:4. . . .But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  KJV

KEEP TRUSTING

4-5-2018. . . .KEEP TRUSTING! 

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." (Job 13:15 KJV) 

Circumstances even leading to death do not justify compromising our trust in God.  If we die, we are with Him; and if we live, we are yet trusting Him.  Keep Trusting Him until the end no matter what!  He does not and He will not fail!

PRAYER: Lord, I will trust you forever!  Amen.

Ps 3:1-3. . . .LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.  Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. KJV

BE STILL!

4-3-2018. . . .Be Still!

‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Ps 46:10 NIV) 

In the hustle and bustle of our lives, we must remember to reserve some time to "Be Still".   In moments of stillness, we are able to discern and receive God’s instruction and direction.  Motion and movement are not indicative of presence.  The Prophet Elijah witnessed the Wind, the Earthquake and the Fire (motion & movement) but the Lord’s presence was not in them.   After these, however, he heard a "still small voice." (ref. I Kings 19:11-12)  Don’t let your preoccupations and occupations keep you from acknowledging that God is in control and he has everything under control. So go ahead . . . .do what you do, but in all your doing remember, "Be Still."

Prayer: Lord, You are the Lord and Mighty God!  All things are in Your control and under your control. Help us never become so preoccupied or occupied that we don’t have time to be still and know that you are God. Amen!

Isa 45:5-7. . . . I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. NIV